Cicero, McAllister earn Cesky awards

The Al Cesky Scholarship Awards banquet annually showcases some of Harford County's finest high school seniors who rank among the best in the classroom and the athletic arena.

This year's winners of $5,000 scholarships -- Laurie Cicero of Fallston High School and Alfred McAllister of Edgewood High School -- come from backgrounds that perhaps make their accomplishments more meaningful.

Cicero's parents immigrated to the United States from Sicily, and Italian is the language in her home. Still, with English as almost a second language in her early school years, Cicero made the distinguished honor roll every quarter in high school, finishing with only one grade lower than an A. She attained the No. 2 rank in her class.

A four-year member of the cross country and track teams, Cicero won a regional cross country title as a sophomore, and was captain of both squads her senior year. She also is a member of the statewide community service advocacy board, a 25-member board chosen by application.

In acknowledging the award, she said, "I'd like to thank my parents for passing along to me the hope and determination that they have shown, and I accept this in their honor."

She will attend Western Maryland College and plans to major in )) communications.

McAllister, who overcame a series of personal obstacles to reach his level of excellence, made the honor roll the past three years. He is president of the senior class and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Possessed of an outstanding work ethic, he used it not only in the classroom but on the basketball court, where he led Edgewood to two state tournament appearances. He was captain the past two years and was The Baltimore Sun's Harford County Player of the Year as a senior.

Concentrating his studies in mathematics and science, he plans on majoring in electrical engineering and playing basketball at Lafayette.

Cicero is the fourth Fallston girl (all of whom earned letters in cross country and/or track) to win the award in the past five years, and McAllister is the second Edgewood boy to win in the past three years.

The remainder of the 20 nominees received $500 each.

How outstanding are these 20 young people, all of whom plan to go on to higher education?

Six lettered in sports-academics-music; 11 earned academic letters; 19 lettered in two or more sports; 18 were captains or co-captains of their varsity squads as seniors; 16 earned All-County recognition for athletics as seniors.

Academically, three are ranked No. 2 in their class, including one with a 4.0 average, and seven others are ranked in the top 10. Fourteen are members of the National Honor Society, and 14 made the honor roll every quarter in high school. Two are senior class presidents.

New football coaches hired

Fred Myers, most recently the head football coach at Kenwood High School, will join Edgewood High School in the fall as a teacher and head football coach. He had been at Kenwood since 1986, and his past two teams averaged about 27 points a game.

A former All-Maryland Scholastic Association tackle at John Carroll School, Myers has had coaching experience ranging from recreation to college (Johns Hopkins) over the past 20 years. He succeeds Steve Salters.

* Tim Larrimore, a teacher (history, geography, and economics) and head baseball coach at North Harford High School, has accepted additional duties as head football coach, replacing Lauren Lydic Jr.

Larrimore is a 1984 graduate of North Caroline High School -- where he was the most valuable player in football and baseball as a senior -- and of Salisbury State, where he played varsity baseball. He gained coaching experience during a year at Bel Air High School and has been at North Harford the past four years. He served four seasons as junior varsity football coach and just completed his fourth season as head baseball coach.

Greg Goles (John Carroll), a four-year starter in soccer and lacrosse for Mount St. Mary's, has been named the most valuable player for lacrosse and the recipient of the John M. Kolon Award, which goes to the male senior athlete who "through hard work and dedication has earned the respect and admiration of athletes and coaches."

A defenseman in both sports, he was a team captain for two years in soccer and one year in lacrosse. Goles is the first to be a captain in two sports since the school moved to Division I in 1988.